Alex, what a gift of pen and heart you have. Thank you for sharing it with us.
From the early on stop-me-in-my-tracks line "Why have I been in so many cults?" ... to "I love being a part of something... it's okay for me to get lost in it, right?" ... to the people who encourage the pause ... the work/identity learnings from the Toni Morrison essay ... and "the ones who hold us down." This really caused me to stop and think in the greatest of ways. š
Iām so appreciative. Thank you for making the time to sit with this essay, and Iām glad it could meet you where you are and be something you were able to feel. It means the world. Thank you so much, Erin!
Just so beautifully described. As one who grew up without a father, I spent too much time in survival mode to realize that I missed having one; even though I had gotten to experience a loving stepdad until I was nearly 4.
It was in my 30s that I began to ache for āhim;ā not my stepdad, but my bio-dad, even though I did not know him and knew that he had done a horrible thing to my mother.
I reviewed all my behaviors and all the messes I was in and all the times I almost died and felt that things would have been different had I had all loving father throughout my childhood.
I say all this say that I felt all of this all over again while reading your post. Not that I ever stop feeling it, but it resonated this time with hope.
Thank you for sharing this piece of your story with me. Iām glad these words could meet you where you are, even if to just feel what youāre feeling. I appreciate you making time to read.
Alex, this is too precious! I am fond of often overlooking my community and thinking I can do everything by myself. You've made me realise that this is one of the most normalised yet extremely harmful fallacies in our society. Exquisite pen sir!!!
Aw thank you, Sarah! I'm with you. Harmful systems often push us to isolate ourselves, and it's easy to fall into that trap. But I'm grateful for the people who have reminded me that I can't do life alone.
Wow, this is the first article Iāve read on Substack that has made me cry. Iām going to hug my people extra tightly today. Thank you so much for thisš„¹
Love this Alex. New to your newsletter. Ironically Iām writing about the idea of Home this week and I had identified that same essay by Toni Morrison.
Wow. This did not go where I expected it to. It was so much more -- which I should have expected! Thank you for reminding us it's about the love in our loves, received as well as given.
Antonia, hi!! Always a gift when you read and comment. Thank you so much for going on the journey with me, and Iām glad it was something you were able to connect with. I appreciate you. A reminder that there are people who care about our collective good.
I feel the same way about my people, and it's beautiful to remember I'm not self-made.
Iām glad we have each other š«
Absolutelyā¦ What a beautiful space weāve made.
The way I cried watching Daughters - my goodness. It was so beautifully filmed and such a powerful and important story.
Yes all of that š
This was so precious to read and so reassuring. Knowing people have your back can boost you to do so much more for yourself and for them too!
Ah thank you, thatās how I feel reading youāre writing too! And itās real, just being able to process life with them is a gift
This really resonated with me and came at the right time ā¤ļø
Iām so happy to hear that. Iām glad this essay could meet you where you are š«¶š½
Beautiful, like a warm hug and a tight embrace.
Thatās very generous. Thank you, AngĆØle.
Alex, what a gift of pen and heart you have. Thank you for sharing it with us.
From the early on stop-me-in-my-tracks line "Why have I been in so many cults?" ... to "I love being a part of something... it's okay for me to get lost in it, right?" ... to the people who encourage the pause ... the work/identity learnings from the Toni Morrison essay ... and "the ones who hold us down." This really caused me to stop and think in the greatest of ways. š
Iām so appreciative. Thank you for making the time to sit with this essay, and Iām glad it could meet you where you are and be something you were able to feel. It means the world. Thank you so much, Erin!
Just so beautifully described. As one who grew up without a father, I spent too much time in survival mode to realize that I missed having one; even though I had gotten to experience a loving stepdad until I was nearly 4.
It was in my 30s that I began to ache for āhim;ā not my stepdad, but my bio-dad, even though I did not know him and knew that he had done a horrible thing to my mother.
I reviewed all my behaviors and all the messes I was in and all the times I almost died and felt that things would have been different had I had all loving father throughout my childhood.
I say all this say that I felt all of this all over again while reading your post. Not that I ever stop feeling it, but it resonated this time with hope.
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing this piece of your story with me. Iām glad these words could meet you where you are, even if to just feel what youāre feeling. I appreciate you making time to read.
I love how you express your emotions. This was a moving piece for me and so beautifully written.
Thank you, Claire. Iām honored you made the time to read!
Alex, this is too precious! I am fond of often overlooking my community and thinking I can do everything by myself. You've made me realise that this is one of the most normalised yet extremely harmful fallacies in our society. Exquisite pen sir!!!
Aw thank you, Sarah! I'm with you. Harmful systems often push us to isolate ourselves, and it's easy to fall into that trap. But I'm grateful for the people who have reminded me that I can't do life alone.
Wow, this is the first article Iāve read on Substack that has made me cry. Iām going to hug my people extra tightly today. Thank you so much for thisš„¹
IāM HONORED š„¹š„°š¤āŗļøš„²šāāļø thank you!!!
Love this Alex. New to your newsletter. Ironically Iām writing about the idea of Home this week and I had identified that same essay by Toni Morrison.
I guess great minds š¤·š»āāļøāŗļø
Thank you, Dee! And thatās amazing, great minds indeed. Love that Toni Morrison essay so much!
āA cult of our own consistency and careā sign me tf up yesterday š„¹
Bring the Kool-Aid š„¤
Wow. This did not go where I expected it to. It was so much more -- which I should have expected! Thank you for reminding us it's about the love in our loves, received as well as given.
Antonia, hi!! Always a gift when you read and comment. Thank you so much for going on the journey with me, and Iām glad it was something you were able to connect with. I appreciate you. A reminder that there are people who care about our collective good.
Your words are a gift! And a reminder to me as well, of the same. š
Beautifully Brilliant! Phenomenal voiceover.
Thank you!!! Thatās so kind š„¹
ā¦and so trueš. Youāre Welcome. I appreciate and am inspired by the way you write and think.
š«
Iām thankful to have several very close friends that Iāve know for over 20 years. We support each other and hold each other accountable
Thatās beautiful, Elizabeth. Itās wonderful yāall have been able to remain close for that long.
I love you brother. this was a beautiful piece.
I love you fam, thank you so much š«